Entering motherhood can feel daunting (and expensive) at first, but I promise you it doesn’t have to be! In this post I share the exact baby essentials we used in the first few weeks of my daughter’s life because trust me, you need less than you might think.
Having been a nanny and babysitter for over a decade, I felt pretty confident going into motherhood. I knew babies, I knew how to take care of them, and I felt like I had a good idea of what we would need. But somewhere along the way, I got completely sucked into all the stuff. My registry started filling up with all of the things everyone else seemed to be buying, and honestly, no one was really telling me that I didn’t need most of it. (Especially not TikTok and those freaking baby hauls).
Part of me loved having everything ready and feeling prepared because I had all the “stuff”, but once our daughter was actually here, I realized just how little you really need for a new baby. There were things I thought would be essential that we barely touched, and other little things that we ended up using constantly that no one was talking about!
This guide is a little more in depth than my usual posts, and it is focused on items for a newborn. But I just really want to share my thoughts for any mom-to-be who is trying to figure out what she actually needs, or any new mom looking for a few things that might make life with a baby a little easier. These are the products we genuinely used during our first month as parents, and honestly still use 4 months in. I’m also sharing the things we didn’t use because I think that can be just as helpful when you’re putting together your own newborn baby shopping list. You really don’t need to buy every single thing before your baby arrives — trust me!
Baby Essentials We Loved in the Early Days!
Wireless Egg Night Light
During those early newborn days a lot happens at night — diaper changes, feedings, bra changes (iykyk), potty breaks and sneaking out to the kitchen for yet another water bottle refill. All of this happens when you really don’t want to turn on a bright overhead light and wake your sleeping baby.
This little rechargeable night light ended up being one of those things I was so glad we had! My husband and I each had our own on our bedside tables so we could have just enough light to see what we were doing without completely lighting up the room. I also liked that it was wireless and easy to move around. It wasn’t something that had to stay in one particular spot, so we could use it wherever we needed a little extra light.
I also wish I had brought this with us to the hospital because during our one night stay I was going crazy trying to find a small light to turn on without blinding us all!
Shop the rechargeable night light I used!!
Large Muslin Blankets
I know muslin blankets are on basically every baby registry, but I actually found that I liked, and still love, a larger muslin blanket much more than the traditional smaller burp cloths.
I use ours for everything! It’s great for nursing, catching letdown, burping, putting over my shoulder, wrapping around her little legs in the carseat, and generally having something soft nearby whenever I needed it. I liked the larger size because it gives so much more coverage than a typical burp cloth and it’s so much easier tomorrow use. If you’re building a newborn essentials checklist, I would absolutely add a few large muslin blankets to it instead of a bunch of small burp cloths.
Shop large muslin blankets/swaddles
Philips Avent Soothie Pacifiers
We didn’t introducer a pacifier to our daughter until she was two weeks old, as I wanted to make sure breastfeeding was fully established and we didn’t create a habit too soon. And while this worked great for us, when we introduced one to her she loved the Philips Avent Soothies! I liked having several around the house, in the car, and the stroller just in case a big case of the tears happened.
Shop the Philips Avent Soothie Pacifiers
Baby Thermometer
This is something you probably won’t need, at least I hope you won’t need, right away with you baby, but it is a baby essential you should have on your list for safety (and peace of mind).
Bottom Thermometer and Ear Thermometer
Baby Lounger
Having somewhere to put the baby down while we were right there with her was really helpful. We kept it around the house which made it easier to have her nearby while one of us was sitting on the couch, getting something done, or just taking a few minutes to ourselves. It’s the perfect safe spot for your little one to nap, or be close by while you fold some laundry and watch a little Netflix.
Zip Up Pajamas
Your little one will live in zip up jammies the first weeks and having cute, and comfy, ones are a must! I love ones made of bamboo so they stretch and grow. Even now at 4 months old my daughter still fits into her same 0-3 month old ones. They are just perfect!
I feel like it’s helpful to say — newborns really don’t need a huge wardrobe, especially in those first few weeks. It’s so tempting to buy super cute outfit sets, but in the first month or so comfy onesies are the way to go. So safe yourself the stress!
Portable White Noise Machine
We knew from the beginning that sleep was going to be important for both us and our daughter, so we wanted to start building some simple sleep associations right away. A portable white noise machine was one of those things that was a must-have for us because anytime it was time for her to nap — whether that meant a contact nap, sleeping in her stroller or car seat, or going down in her bassinet — we turned on the white noise. It quickly became a little cue for her that it was time to sleep, and I loved having something we could use consistently no matter where we were.
Shop the Momcozy Portable White Noise Machine
Disposable Baby Changing Pad Liners
I thought these would be silly at first and another thing to generate waste (which I don’t like), BUT after my daughter pooped all over me, her changing pad, table and more, I realized how these could make those early days just a little bit easier.
Now that she is 4 months old we don’t use them besides when we go on trips, but int he beginning is just saves you from another mess to clean when you are already feeling a little bit worn down.
Shop from favorite clean changing pads!
The Lovevery Play Gym
I know every millennial parent has this item now, but I could not love it more! It’s the perfect low-stimulation play mat that allowed our daughter to look around, listen to the sounds, and start becoming interested in everything around her without a million sounds or screaming lights. It also gave me a place to put her down when I wanted to make breakfast, fold some laundry, or just sit next to her with my coffee.
Honestly though, one of the biggest reasons I love the Play Gym so much is that it isn’t something you’re going to use for a few weeks and then put away which can feel the case with a lot of baby items. It’s designed to grow with your baby throughout the first year, and we’ve already started seeing her become more interested in the different parts of it as she gets a little older. We have the toy subscription that makes sure she has age appropriate developmental toys ready for her and I don’t have to worry about searching for any of that. Win!
Baby Care Products We Couldn’t Live Without
Mustela Liniment
I definitely lean a little more toward the “crunchy mom” side of things, and I love the ‘Granola Moms‘ corner of Reddit. Now, I’m not perfect about it by any means, but when there’s an easy way for us to choose something a little cleaner and more gentle, that’s usually the direction I want to go. So, that’s how we ended up trying Mustela Liniment, and I love it!
Liniment is basically a no-rinse cleansing lotion that you use during diaper changes instead of a traditional wipe. You put some on a cotton pad or reusable wipe, gently clean baby’s bottom, and you’re done. Mustela’s formula is made with olive oil and is designed to gently cleanse the diaper area while moisturizing and helping support the skin barrier. We started using it pretty much from the beginning, and our daughter has never had diaper rash.
Mustela Cleansing Water
This is a must for cleaning their little necks (that get oh so smelly)! It’s perfect for a quick wipe down and for us, it’s apart of our morning routine so our girl knows it’s time to start the day.
Mustela Foam Shampoo for Newborns
Any parent that has seen cradle cap, really wants to avoid it. We do a quick bath every night to support our daughter’s nighttime routine (and just saying — she’s slept through the night since she was 12 weeks old) and a hair wash every other bath. The Mustela Foam Shampoo for Newborns is specifically formulated for newborn scalps and helping prevent cradle cap, and that it really does! Our baby never ended up getting cradle cap, and I just love having it as part of our bath routine, and she loves it too!
Shop Mustela Foam Shampoo for Newborns
Haakaa Baby Nail Care Set
Newborn nails are so tiny, yet they grow so fast, so a nail file is a must. It’s much better than trying to clip those impossibly tiny nails. The battery charge lasts as really long time too, I’ve yet to charge it 4 months later!
Shop the Haakaa Baby Nail Care Set
Shop My Baby Essentials!
*Bonus* 5 Baby Products I Bought But Didn’t Use
One of the things I wish I had seen more of when I was pregnant was not just what other moms loved, but what they didn’t end up using. There are so many newborn products that you can convince yourself you absolutely need before your baby arrives, only to bring them home and realize they just aren’t useful for your family. And I definitely did this, too.
This is a list of items myself or my daughter didn’t like, or we didn’t end up using at all. A few things you can think about and maybe try *once* your little one has arrived. They aren’t items I think you need on hand right away. You can always get them later!
1. Love to Dream Swaddle
We have the Snoo so I don’t know why I bought this in the first place, but I think I was so worried she wouldn’t like the Snoo. Jokes, she absolutely loved it and it was the best investment we made. But always, I wanted a different swaddle on hand for when we went out of town and when we did try this she was not a fan. I don’t think you need to buy every type of swaddle before your baby arrives. You can always get another one later if you find that your baby prefers it.
2. Gas and Colic Drops
I bought these because I figured we should have them unhand just in case, but we never ended up using them. I think these are one of those things I’d personally wait on rather than buying ahead of time just because you see them on every newborn checklist.
3. Bottles
This is very personal, but I feel like it’s worth sharing!
I knew I wanted to breastfeed, but I knew I also wanted my husband to be able to feed our daughter occasionally so we’d need some bottles on hand. I was a little worked up and worried about this so I put two different bottle sets on my registry. Why? I would have LOVED if a fellow mom said “hey girl, chill on the bottles. Buy one or two max, and go from there”. So, this is my advice to you momma! Buy two different ones, and wait until your little one is here to see what they prefer.
Especially if you’re breastfeeding and don’t know exactly what your feeding situation will look like yet, I wouldn’t feel like you need to stock up on a huge collection of bottles before your baby arrives. You can always buy what you need once you know what works for you and your baby.
I am going to share about my breastfeeding journey soon because it’s been the best and I feel like not enough women talk about how easy and beautiful it can be 🫶🏼
4. Angelcare Baby Bath
This is one thing I would actually do differently because I didn’t love it. It felt too big for my daughter for ages and uncomfortable. And now at 4 months it’s getting too small, but she isn’t able to sit up by herself yet so I am in a pickle! I would have rather purchased the Skip Hop Baby Bath Tub 4-in-1 so we could use it longer, and it’s more comfy for you little one.
5. A Diaper Bag
Now, I am all for a diaper bag, but you just don’t need one right away. For those first few weeks, anytime we left the house I just threw whatever I needed into my medium sized Lonchamp tote (and honestly it’s still what I use most!). You’re not necessarily going anywhere for long stretches of time, and you really don’t need a lot when you go. You can always get a diaper bag once you’re getting out of the house more and have a better idea of what you actually like carrying around.
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